Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda and Beatrice Chebet from Kenya have successfully defended their world cross country titles in Belgrade. This accomplishment marks only the fifth time in history that both the senior men’s and women’s champions have retained their titles at the championships.
Kiplimo, who is 23 years old, secured his third successive world crown for Uganda, completing the 10,000km race in 28 minutes and 9 seconds. He now joins legendary runners like Kenenisa Bekele and Paul Tergat in defending the title, although he still has a way to go to match their achievement of winning five times in a row.
Reflecting on his victory, Kiplimo expressed his excitement at successfully defending his title, stating that it felt even more exhilarating than winning it for the first time. He acknowledged the strong competition he faced and described the course as challenging, particularly due to obstacles and the heat.
For Kiplimo, winning this title serves as a significant morale boost after missing the outdoor World Athletics Championships the previous year due to a hamstring injury. He emphasized his goal of following in the footsteps of his compatriot, Joshua Cheptegei, and aiming for an Olympic gold medal. While his main focus is on the 10,000m event, he remains undecided on whether to participate in other races.
In the race, Kiplimo finished three seconds ahead of Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia, who claimed the silver medal. Benson Kiplangat from Kenya secured the bronze, with Cheptegei finishing in a disappointing sixth place.
In the women’s category, Beatrice Chebet made history by becoming the first female runner since Ethiopian great Tirunesh Dibaba to successfully defend her title. She led a Kenyan clean sweep of the medals, crossing the finish line three seconds ahead of Lilian Rengeruk. Margaret Kipkemboi took the bronze medal, closely followed by other Kenyan runners in fourth and fifth positions.
Chebet attributed her success to strong teamwork within the Kenyan team, highlighting the support and camaraderie among teammates. She expressed the challenges of defending a title at a world championship but credited her determination and strength for achieving her podium finish.
